Tennis: Falcons flying to the top

TENNISKinkaid boys hope to net another SPC championship

Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Kinkaid has a new head tennis coach, but little else has changed for the Falcons.

First-year head coach Josh Rodriguez has Kinkaid's well-positioned for a run at the Southwest Preparatory Conference Division I title this spring.

The Falcons won their first three SPC dual matches, edging Austin St. Stephen's 3-2 and blanking Austin St. Andrew's and Episcopal by identical 5-0 scores. Kinkaid is the heavy favorite to earn the No. 1 seed from the South Zone.

"There's no question we have a strong boys' team," said Rodriguez, a teaching pro at Houston Racquet Club. "Our top three boys are all nationally ranked, and the rest of them are at the super championship or championship level. We've got good depth."

Rodriguez believes the Falcons have the talent to challenge Dallas Greenhill for the SPC crown. The Falcons lost to the Hornets in last year's conference finals.

"Greenhill has quite a few kids who attend tennis academies. It's going to be difficult to beat them," Rodriguez said. "If we're fortunate enough to play Greenhill, there probably will some strategy involved, as far as finding the right match-ups."

There's no doubt who is Kinkaid's No. 1 boys singles player. Senior captain Ashok Narayana is ranked high in the nation in boys' 18s. Narayana, who trains with King Daddy Sports, has already committed to play college tennis at Columbia University in New York, N.Y.

"Ashok is a special player," Rodriguez said. "He's extremely consistent. He has a great head on his shoulders. When the match is on the line, he usually figures out a way to win."

Kinkaid is missing its No. 2 player. Sophomore David Weiner, who is ranked in the top 10 in Texas in the state in boys' super championship 16s, has been sidelined with back problems. However, Rodriguez is optimistic that David's younger brother, freshman Daniel Weiner, can fill in. David, who is recovering from a rotator cuff injury, is in the top five in the state in super championship 14s.

"David has a big game. He knows how to serve and volley," Rodriguez said. "David can give Ashok a close match in practice."

At No. 3 is junior Jake Stubblefield, who has split time between singles and doubles.

Sophomores Blake Wilde and Win Reynolds comprise Kinkaid's No. 1 doubles duo. The youngsters have terrific chemistry on the court, winning the majority of their matches.

"Blake and Win have faced off hundreds of time in practice," Rodriguez said. "They're both very carefree and never get nervous on big points. Sometimes, it looks like they don't even know the score because they always go for it."

Kinkaid's boys have dropped only one dual all year, a 4-1 decision to Seven Lakes. Against other private schools, they are undefeated.

The girls aren't quite as loaded as their counterparts, but they should finish near the top of the SPC. Kinkaid won its first three conference matches, beating Austin schools St. Stephen's and St. Andrew's 4-1 and shutting out Episcopal 5-0.

Junior Caroline White is entrenched as the Falcons' No. 1 singles player. White is a top 20 player in Texas in girls' super championship 18s.

"Caroline has a steady backcourt game, but she can bring the power," Rodriguez said.